book talk: inspiring women enacting change

whoosh! (that's the sound of time flying by...)
Hey all! Sorry I've been so lax with my posts these days. Time is whipping by me and I feel like I'm scrambling to keep on top of everything. Now, does that mean that I've not taken time to sit on the couch, pizza in hand, to watch a movie or two? Certainly not.

This weekend, Jake and I saw an incredible movie: Pray the Devil Back to Hell.

It is an incredibly powerful documentary about the peaceful protests Christian and Muslim women in Liberia led, which eventually brought an end to their country's civil war. Amazing. 

It felt so relevant to me, because I had just heard on NPR that Leymah Gbowee, one of women integral in starting and sustaining the movement, had jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize this year, along with two other women. Also, activist Leymah Gbowee just published her first book:

 

I so want to read it! I found the documentary and these women's story so moving, I've been meditating on it for a few days, now. I was profoundly touched by the wisdom, the level-headed persistence, and the great forgiveness these women demonstrated in the face of unspeakable atrocities. They inspire me.

What about you? Do you have any inspiring stories/books? What are they?

in nothing great or small

Saturday Snapshot

Hello! Happy weekend:) It has been a fun, delicious and relaxing weekend for us--I hope for you, too. We are heading to my Grandma's 87th birthday party this evening,

Grandma and my mom at Jake's art show. Aren't they pretty?

so I thought I'd take a minute to give you a snapshot of how my saturday went.

For book club, I was brave and bought mimolette. I say brave, because I learned at the cheese shop that part of the aging process for this cheese involves mites. Yes, mites! Creepy, but delicious.  

My best friend is getting ready to head to Europe for about a month. I brought some leftover mimolette and a bottle of Gypsy Chariot wine (a nod to her upcoming wandering!) over to her house...

...and we had a mini Dr. Who marathon! What could be better? (can I just say--the through plot is getting pretty twisty-good!)

I came home after our fun, nerdy girl-time, and it was a cool, crisp evening. I was glad to have some cozy new pjs to curl up in.

What are you up to this weekend? Give me a snapshot!

I am so inspired by her...

Check out this fantastic article about Bel Kaufman. She is 100 years old is an adjunct professor at Hunter College. She teaches a course in Jewish humor called, "Laugh, Laugh, Laugh." (heh, if you ask me, to be 100 and still teaching higher ed. *requires* a great sense of humor!) But seriously, this lady is so inspiring--she dances the mambo for crying out loud! I hope I can be just like her when I'm 100.